The German Society for Contemporary Theatre and Drama in English(CDE) announces its 15th Annual Conference (May 25-28, 2006): "Dramaand/after Postmodernism". It will be organized by the Chair ofEnglish Literature at the University of Augsburg and held at aconference venue in the town centre of Augsburg, Germany.

In the past three decades, few discourses in the humanities andsocial sciences have found a resonance as lasting as the discoursesof postmodernism. Various theoretical approaches in philosophy,sociology, psychoanalysis, gender studies and - last but not least -literary studies (i.e. Barthes, Baudrillard, Cixous, Deleuze,Derrida, Foucault, Habermas, Irigaray, Kristeva, Lacan, Lyotard,Jameson, and many others) have outlined postmodern culture or expressa postmodern zeitgeist. The conference will address the issues of apostmodern aesthetics in/of drama, and thereby discuss the future ofpostmodernism via questioning as to whether contemporary dramaadheres to the 'incompleted project of modernism' or rather considerspostmodern fragmentation and anti-rationalism as a liberating avenue.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:* analysis and evaluation of central assumptions of postmodern theoryand their aesthetic reflection in the texts of contemporaryplaywrights;* re-evaluation of the significance of the Avant-garde in the contextof contemporary drama and theatre in English;* introduction to and critical discussion of postmodern discoursesand their historical context in the social and political sphere;* critical analysis of the relationship between dramatic theory andtheatrical practice in the context of contemporary drama and theatrein English.

Abstracts:If you propose to give a talk (in English, not exceeding 20 minutes),please submit your title and an abstract of 200 words accompanied bya short biographical sketch. In addition to the presentation ofpapers we particularly invite contributions to alternative forms ofdiscussion: e.g. proposals for workshops on Teaching ContemporaryDrama in English and on Theatre Practice/Working with English DramaGroups.Deadline for submission of abstracts: 31 December 2005.

Only paid-up members are eligible to read papers at CDE conferences.NB: Membership subscriptions may be taken out or renewed during theconference.